Could Javier Bardem be returning to the world of Cormac McCarthy? After his Oscar-winning turn in No Country For Old Men, Deadline is reporting the possibility, as news of who may be cast in the villain role of The Counselor comes in. We got confirmation this week that Ridley Scott will be directing the McCarthy-written thriller with Michael Fassbender in the lead role, but there was still a major baddie character to be decided.
One name circling is Bardem, but The Hurt Locker and upcoming The Bourne Legacy star Jeremy Renner is also part of the group. The outlet also mentions Brad Pitt, but scheduling issues are unclear if he could do it, even though he currently only has a cameo in Steve McQueen’s Twelve Years a Slave to shoot this summer.
Details are spare, but we know the film follows “a respected lawyer who thinks he can dip a toe in to the drug business without getting sucked down.” It’s also being described as “No Country For Old Men on steroids.” I can’t even begin to imagine what is in store with that premise, but any three of the mentioned actors could be great to go against Fassbender. I’d almost rather see someone like Renner or Pitt take an evil role, as they’ve mostly played the other side. We’ll continue to provide casting updates as they come in.
Shooting begins this May for a likely 2013 release.
Who would you like to see in the villain role?